Groundwater Control Areas & Advisory Boards

Three groundwater management districts called Control Areas have been established in the southeast portion of the state. All applications for new wells exceeding 25 gallons per minute (gpm) (exempting stock, domestic, and miscellaneous under 25 gpm) or petitions for change of existing groundwater use within the boundaries of the designated areas must pass through an additional level of review involving public notice and recommendation from a 5-member elected Advisory Board prior to approval.
The Groundwater Control Area Advisory Boards advise and assist the State Engineer and Board of Control in formulating policies and recommendations on applications and petitions concerning groundwater development in the Control Area. Each Control Area Advisory Board is comprised of five property owners residing within the Control Area. The members are elected to four-year terms by property owners who own land within the Control Area. Members may serve two consecutive terms and no political split is required.